adidas is joining forces with REBO in order to strengthen its vision to end plastic waste, creating a limited edition bottle adidas x REBO. The product will come in the iconic Run For The Ocean Glory Blue and 250 pieces will be available for sale on June 8th at midnight on selected adidas website: UK, Germany and France.

REBO’s interconnected technology embedded in the cap tracks the water you drink, the plastic bottles avoided, and issues plastic credits to pay the cost of collecting tossed away plastic bottles. The REBO app is synched to the Runtastic Adidas Running app to dynamically recommend optimal hydration needs. The plastic collection cost is paid by REBO and its sponsors and goes to the Parley Global Cleanup Network, an alliance of organizations that collaborate to remove plastic waste from beaches, remote islands, rivers, mangroves and high seas, and intercept ocean-bound plastics in coastal communities.

Exploitation and poor standards, whether environmental or labour, pose a threat both to the sustainability of the oceans and the wellbeing of humanity.

Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/ILO.ORG/videos/986830912061839

On World Ocean Day (8th June 2021), countries from all four corners of the world – from India to Guyana, South Korea to Austria have pledged to support the ‘30 by 30’ commitment which is being championed by the UK-led Global Ocean Alliance and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, co-chaired by the UK, Costa Rica and France.

This next milestone follows a successful meeting of the G7 Climate and Environment ministers, during which all members agreed to champion the global ‘30×30’ target to conserve or protect at least 30 percent of the world’s land and at least 30 percent of the world’s ocean by 2030, as well as committing to ‘30 x 30’ domestically.

Members of the Global Ocean Alliance and/or the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

Today is World Ocean Day. In order to ensure a sustainable supply of fish and seafood, SV Switzerland adheres to the recommendations ofWWFand is constantly increasing the proportion of MSC and ASC certified fish. For everyone who wants to contribute even more to the protection of the oceans with their menu choice, test it. Claudio Schmitz and his team in our FoodLab in Dübendorf vegan alternatives to fish for our menu.

Image Credit: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6808037668866273281/?actorCompanyId=64855656

UNCTAD online event, 2 – 4.30 pm CEST

Official UNCTAD 15 pre-event

Background

A sustainable and resilient ocean economy is vital for achieving the policy objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as other international agreements, including the SAMOA Pathway, Paris Agreement, the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Sendai Framework. For small island developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable island nations, as well as coastal developing countries, the sustainable development of the ocean economy, including fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, offshore hydrocarbon and renewable energy, ecosystem services and the potential use of marine genetic resources, holds considerable promise. At the same time, these economies face important trade-related and environmental challenges, including marine and coastal pollution, ocean acidification, natural disasters and climate change impacts, as well as constraints in terms of geography, connectivity and capacity.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive socio-economic impacts may give rise to new priorities, it underlines the critical importance of openness, trade and infrastructure readiness, economic diversification, risk-assessment and resiliency building. Changing circumstances arising from the impacts of the pandemic will need to be considered as part of future trade, logistic and development strategies going forward.

Key issues for consideration

Sustainable trade in ocean-based goods and services. UNCTAD estimates the value of tradable oceans-based goods and services is about $2.5 trillion annually. Oceans and seas support almost 3 billion people living by the coast. However, the overall value of key ocean assets is much larger and has been estimated conservatively to be at least $24 trillion. There is a need to introduce significant structural changes in our economies, on how we trade, patterns of consumption and production, food and transport systems, in ways that may have seemed too disruptive or expensive before. These changes are needed to ensure the sustainability of oceans.

Fisheries and aquaculture. Fish is one of the most internationally traded foods, with a total export value of $164.1 billion in 2018. Developing countries have a share of about 54 per cent by value and 60 per cent of traded quantities and, with a net revenue higher than that of all other agricultural commodities combined. However, we have reached the limit of what can be harvested from the ocean. To ensure the sustainable use of marine resources requires innovative policy, regulatory and entrepreneurial oceans economic approaches including in the way to trade and conduct business. It should also include efforts to conclude a multilateral fish subsidies agreement that would allow phasing out harmful economic incentives for stocks sustainability and to channel fresh resources towards blue investment.

Sustainable shipping. Over 80 per cent of the volume of world merchandise trade is carried by sea, from port to port, with around 60 percent of seaborne trade loaded and unloaded in developing countries. For SIDS and other island nations, shipping and seaports are lifelines for external trade, food and energy security, and tourism, as well as in the context of DRR. At the same time, SIDS face particular transport-related challenges, including limited connectivity to global shipping networks, high transport costs, and vulnerability to ship-source pollution, as well as climate change, which need to be addressed as part of sustainable development strategies and plans. Initiatives to reduce emissions from maritime transport and increase energy-efficiency, including those under the auspices of the IMO, are important for achievement of global climate goals and can also reduce the carbon footprint for regional value chains and developing country exports.

Climate resilient ports. Seaports are essential to all ocean economy activity. They provide access to global trade, markets, and supply-chains for all countries, and are integral to maritime transport, as well as fisheries, offshore energy exploration and economic activities in coastal zones. However, these critical assets are at considerable and growing risk of climate change impacts from coastal flooding and extreme events. In the absence of adaptation, related damage, disruption and delay may have important trade-related repercussion and compromise the sustainable development prospects of vulnerable island nations and coastal populations. Multifaceted and innovative approaches to adaptation and resilience building will be required to address this challenge, and upscaled capacity-building will be critical for those at greatest risk.

Sustainable tourism. Tourism represents a significant part of the ocean economy in many parts of the world.  At the same time, it has been one of the most impacted oceans-based sectors because of the COVID-19 pandemic with a reduction of over 70 per cent in international tourists’ arrivals in 2020. Rebuilding inclusive, resilient, and sustainable tourism will require fresh investment that protects and regenerates the ecosystems on which it depends and reinvest tourism revenues into local communities to build capacity and increase local employment, diversify economic opportunities and increase resources for coastal and marine restoration and protection.

Sustainable offshore energy. Upscaling capacity for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation (including offshore) may also bring major co-benefits, in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g. to the impacts of rising temperatures), as well as reduce dependency on energy imports and related expenditure. Exploring ways to increase investment in alternative energy sources and low-cost innovations will be key in diversifying the energy mix in many SIDS and coastal developing countries.

Objectives of the HL panel discussion

While the ongoing pandemic has given rise to a range of new challenges, the UNCTAD15 Conference, to be held from 3–7 October 2021, offers a timely opportunity for consideration of policy responses that support blue COVID-19 recovery strategies and address the socio-economic and environmental challenges that coastal developing countries and vulnerable SIDS face in harnessing the benefits of the ocean economy. This HL panel discussion, held on the margins of the UN World Oceans Day provides a platform for exchange on some of the key challenges and opportunities to help identify priority areas for accelerated policy action and inform related intergovernmental processes,  particularly  UNCTAD15 and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in 2021.

For further information, see the UNCTAD meetings website. To register, please go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_84IM29_nTIy42QLnYuvIxQ

 

Image Credit: https://unctad.org/meeting/unctad15-pre-event-harnessing-benefits-ocean-economy-sustainable-development

Mare Nostrum is a French/Swiss ambient music label.

Once a month, for a year, the label has offered an ambient music release composed by different musicians from all over the world. Nature, wide open spaces and wild life are the main sources of inspiration for the artists of Mare Nostrum Label.

For World Ocean Day 2021, the label is offering its “Dive in” compilation at free price on Bandcamp. All funds collected from June 8 to 15, 2021 will be donated for the protection of the ocean.

Photo credit: Hovorková Marcela

firmm World Ocean Day Quiz

Our Event – Unsere Aktion

English

At firmm.education June is all about World Ocean Day. In five exciting units you will learn how important the ocean is – not only for the animals living in it, but also for us. You can print our your World Ocean Day certificate using the codes from each quiz at the end of the units. (The content is only available in German.)

Deutsch

Der Juni steht bei firmm.education ganz im Zeichen des Welttags der Ozeane. Erfahre in fünf spannenden Lerneinheiten, wie wichtig die Ozeane sind – nicht nur für die darin lebenden Tiere, sondern auch für uns Menschen. Für jedes Thema brauchst du etwa 15-20 Minuten. Mit den Codes aus jedem Abschluss-Quiz kannst du dir im Anschluss dein firmm-Zertifikat zum Welttag der Ozeane ausdrucken.

Our Organization – Unsere Organisation

English

The foundation firmm has been committed to the protection of marine mammals and their habitat since 1998. In the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) we offer respectful whale watching and enable people to see and appreciate the animals in their natural environment. By means of research and educational events we raise awareness of whale and dolphin conservation needs. (website in English, Spanish, French and German)

Deutsch

Die Stiftung firmm engagiert sich seit 1998 für den Schutz von Meeressäugern und deren Lebensraum. Durch respektvolles Whale Watching schaffen wir an unserem Standort in der Straße von Gibraltar (Spanien) Begegnungsmöglichkeiten zwischen Mensch und Tier. Über Forschung und Informationsveranstaltungen fördern wir einen respektvolleren Umgang mit dem Meer und seinen Bewohnern. (Webseite auf Deutsch, Englisch, Spanisch und Französisch)

Our Website – Unsere Webseite

English

firmm.education is firmm’s educational platform. Based on topics around the whales and dolphins in the Strait of Gibraltar, we show how interconnected everything in the marine ecosystem is and how our lives also depend on this interaction. The study units cover some special features of the strait, flora and fauna, the history of the earth, human influence on the ocean, and the work of our foundation. Our visitors will also find a collection of videos on topics related to the sea and environmental protection as well as publications by firmm and by students in cooperation with firmm. (The content of the website is only in German at the moment.)

Deutsch

firmm.education ist die Bildungsplattform von firmm. Am Beispiel der Wale und Delfine in der Straße von Gibraltar zeigen wir, wie im Ökosystem Meer alles miteinander verknüpft ist und wie auch unser Leben von diesem Miteinander abhängt. Die Lerninhalte beschäftigen sich unter anderem mit Besonderheiten der Meerenge, Flora und Fauna, Erdgeschichte und Evolution, dem Einfluss des Menschen auf den Ozean sowie mit der Arbeit unserer Stiftung. Darüber hinaus finden unsere Besucher auf der Seite eine Sammlung von Videos zu Themen rund ums Meer und Umweltschutz sowie Publikationen von firmm und Arbeiten von Schülern und Studenten in Zusammenarbeit mit unserer Stiftung.